Zimbabwean social workers have been handed 'golden hello' packages worth £7,000 to come and work for Birmingham City Council.

The payments top a list of f inancial inducements designed to attract and keep front-line care staff.

The council was last night unable to say how much it spent a year on cash rewards to lure new recruits and plug an exodus of trained social workers to other local author-ities, where salaries are more generous. However, lump-sum rewards on offer include:

* £5,000 for graduates during the first year of employment.

* £4,000 for team managers in the children and families unit after one year.

* £2,000 for level two social workers after one year.

* £2,000 relocation packages for new employees.

Social workers from Zimbabwe and other foreign countries, trained to UK standards, were recruited four years ago through an agency.

The maximum cost to the public purse was £10,000 for each of the 56 people employed - a total of £560,000.

The new recruits were given £1,000 one-off payments and up to £6,000 to cover the costs of setting up a home in Birmingham.

The council also gave the agency 15 per cent of the first year's salary, about £3,000, per employee.

A spokesman said the council continued to look at opportunities for recruiting from aboard, but was more interested now in attracting graduates from UK universities.

Plans to sponsor students to join Birmingham social services when they graduate, with payments of £6,000 per person, are being considered.

The tactics have been prompted by a high turnover of staff. In the 18 months b etween July 2004 and December 2005, 146 social workers quit the council - about 20 per cent of the total employed.

Among those leaving were the only three social workers specialising in children's disability issues.

Turnover in some sections of the children and families unit has amounted to almost 50 per cent since 2002, with many leaving to find work through private agencies which offer higher salaries and a range of perks including cars.

The exodus forced the council to spend £100,000 a year on advertising for replacements.

Social workers in the children and families unit were given a £200 a month pay rise in April in an attempt to bring their salaries into line with neighbouring local authorities.

A scheme targeting students completing a diploma in social work, offering a £5,000 payment for the first 12 months of employment with the council, has attracted 27 new members of staff - at a total cost of £135,000.

Frank Tooke, head of human resources at the adults and communities directorate, said the council had to address issues of its "marketability".

He added: "This has proved difficult in the past given c ompetition from other authorities, agencies and the private sector."

Mr Tooke said the measures put in place to reward e mployees had already resulted in a significant improvement in recruitment.

He added: "We will have to continue with payments given that this is seen as common practice in the profession. However, we must build positively on all the other plus points for seeking employment with Birmingham."